Awesome Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

By norsegal8

"This straightforward recipe delivers moist, dense, and delicious carrot cake with pineapple under a cream cheese frosting."

Ingredients

• 3 cups grated carrots
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) package Neufchatel cheese
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.

In a large bowl, combine grated carrots, flour, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in eggs, applesauce, oil, 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, pineapple and 3/4 cup chopped pecans. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, Neufchatel cheese, 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla. Beat until smooth, then stir in 1 cup chopped pecans. Spread on cooled cake.